PayByCash
Adopted by Bigpoint.com.
Santa Clara, CA; May 19, 2009 — Bigpoint.com, the world’s largest portal for browser games, today announces a partnership with PlaySpan™, the leader in monetization solutions for online games, social networks, and virtual worlds, to bring PlaySpan’s PayByCash® and Ultimate Game Card® payment options to Bigpoint’s more than 63 million users globally and 200,000 new registrations daily.
Bigpoint.com is the world’s largest portal for browser games and is one of the top three gaming portals in the world. Bigpoint’s selection of titles, currently available in 20 different languages, includes high-quality games, which until now could only be accessed through CDs or console games. Under the agreement, PlaySpan’s PayByCash and Ultimate Game Card will provide several different purchase capabilities for virtual goods and other premium content. PayByCash and Ultimate Game Card currently provide more than 80 different payment methods in 180 countries. The Ultimate Game Card is now available in over 27,000 retail locations in North America and is expected to increase to 38,000 during the summer.
“Our agreement with PlaySpan as a preferred payment solution provider is strategically in line with our plan to become the world’s premier gaming portal and continuously providing better options and service to our players,” said Michael Gutsmann, Chief Finance Officer of Bigpoint. “Implementing PlaySpan’s solution to our offerings gives our customers greater access to a premium selection of browser based games and the most flexible means of purchasing them online.”
“Our relationship with Bigpoint will significantly broaden its ability to monetize content and virtual items,” said Karl Mehta, Founder and CEO of PlaySpan. “We look forward to being a pivotal partner in helping Bigpoint grow and enabling its players to maximize their experience on the site.”
Games covered under the relationship include Managergames Hockey, Managergames Soccer, Seafight, The-Mafia, Actionliga, XBlaster, DarkOrbit, Pimps, Parsec, Gladiatoren 2, Damoria, Actionleague, Bebees, and K.O. Champs, with many more to be named later.
About Bigpoint
Bigpoint.com is the world’s largest portal for browser games and is one of the top three gaming portals in the world. Bigpoint’s selection of products, currently available in 20 different languages, includes high-quality games which until now could only be offered with CDs or console games. With over 63 million registrations and 200,000 new registrations daily, Bigpoint.com ( http://www.bigpoint.com) generates its sales by selling virtual goods for several games. The company, which was founded in 2002 and has its headquarters in Hamburg, currently employs 240 individuals and has recently opened a subsidiary in New York as well. GMT and Peacock Equity, NBC Universal’s capital fund, bought a majority share of Bigpoint in June 2008.
Bigpoint was honored for its success with the Red Herring 100 Europe and the OnlineStar awards as the most popular website in Germany. With a growth of 4,500% in the last four years, the Hamburg-based company belongs to the 20 most successful companies in the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East and Africa) according to the Deloitte Technology Fast 500. Company founder Heiko Hubertz was awarded 2nd place as Internet Businessman of the Year 2007. Further information about Bigpoint can be found at http://www.bigpoint.net.
About PlaySpan, Inc.
PlaySpan™ is the leader in monetization solutions for over 1,000 online games, virtual worlds, and social networks. PlaySpan's patent-pending in-game virtual goods commerce and micropayment platform enables game publishers and developers to generate new revenues, acquire new users, and extend the loyalty of existing users.
PlaySpan offers global payment solutions through its subsidiary PayByCa$h® with 80 payment methods in 180 countries and ULTIMATE GAME CARD® available for 300 games in over 21,000 retail locations across North America and thousands more in several key markets worldwide.
Social network payment solutions are available through Spare Change©. Acquired by PlaySpan in April 2009, Spare Change is the first and leading payments platform designed specifically for social networks. Featured on over 700 applications, across Facebook, MySpace and Bebo, Spare Change empowers developers to successfully monetize their applications through micro payments. The Spare Change platform enables users to make safe, convenient, and friendly 1-click purchases through a variety of funding sources.
PlaySpan is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices in Charlottesville, Virginia, Cincinnati, Ohio, and Mumbai. Investors include Easton Capital, Menlo Ventures, STIC and Novel TMT Ventures. The company has recently won the 2009 OnHollywood Category Award for Best Gaming Company.
For more information about PlaySpan, visit http://corp.playspan.com
For more information about Spare Change visit: www.sparechangepayments.com
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